Poamoho Trail to Upper Waimano Trail

Met up with Analyn, Anne, Chris, Kip and Yoly to see Ferlino through the finish line for his Ko’olau Summit Trail completion. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us off and Lopaka for driving our group up the jeep road. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Separation of ungulates and mammals. Let’s keep it that way. We wouldn’t want any inter-fencing. Photo by Anne Fai.

Three in the back, four in the front. That’s how we roll. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Heading into the weekend.

Everybody was doing something at the halfway point. Bench warming, shoe lace tying, bathroom break and photo taker.

Anne and Kip crossing the trickling stream that was within ten minutes of the summit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Everybody enjoying what many claim are the best views on the island. No argument here.

Enjoyment time started to exceed expectation time, as we still had 4.9 miles to cover before setting up camp or so we thought.

Walking on the 300′ section of elevated footpath built to prevent the invasive spread of unwanted seeds.

The multiple flower stalks extending from the base were not quite ready to flower. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Getting our feet wet as we made our way up the trail filled with pockets of muddy water. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Our stay at the storied cabin was short and sweet. I once read that the old cabin used to have a wood burning stove, too bad the present cabin can’t say the same.

When Nutella goes bad.

Looking back at Pu’u Ohulehule in the background.

Enjoying the scenic stretch of the trail with expansive and exquisite views of the Windward side.

Walking on the “sidewalk” of a trail, which I understand once measured four feet wide when it was originally built in the 1930’s. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

When your progress is temporarily halted and you become an unintentional photobomber. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Passing one of many windswept meadows that populate the mountains.

Hugging the carved trail that followed the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Yoly sitting at the 2,680′ spur ridge terminus that drops down into Kahana Valley. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

The trail soon became uneven and interrupted with landslides and false holes.

Ferlino and Yoly passing by one of many native palm trees with their corrugated fan leaves.

Our four valley views of Kahana, Ka’a’awa, Hakipu’u and Waikane from the 2,360′ open grassy spot.

We met Arnold at the junction who was doing an out and back hike on the rugged and overgrown 12 mile Schofield-Waikane Trail.

Leaving the original terminus of the Ko’olau Summit Project. Photo by Arnold Yago.

Catching the reflection and refraction of light in the water droplets below us. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Chris approaching the trail that soon split into two paths.

Taking the higher trail lest we end up in the valley.

Chris hiking through the cloud soaked trail.

Crossing over the unstable slope that is still surprisingly sparse of vegetation from over two years ago. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Anne harvested the immature fruits with the chewy center before the rats ate them all.

Chris passing the rock that bears the initials of previous hikers.

Making our way on the exposed Windward ridge before crossing over to the sheltered Leeward side.

We met another group hiking from Manana, that were also helping a friend to finish the KST as well. Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Chris, myself, Yoly, Analyn, Tanya, Audrey and Stacy. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Stepping over the fence line as the trail twisted and turned in the misty mountains.

Hiking through the Leeward side of the mountain that protected us from the biting wind but not the congested overgrowth and hanging clouds.

Chris passing a weathered tree whose stunted and gnarled branches added texture and character to the trail.

Following the fence down the slippery slope.

We arrived at the Tree of Life pass where the horizontal Sugi Cedar was still alive and well, as they can live for more than 500 years.

Daylight hours were dwindling and rain was in the air, so we decided to call it a day and set up camp. Photo by Anne Fai.

Is that a bivvy bag or a tent? Photo by Anne Fai.

The steady rain kept us isolated in our tents as we ate our supper and turned in for the night. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Waking up to the earthy smell left by the overnight rain showers. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Doing our morning calisthenics to get the blood flowing.

Get a tent already.

Analyn getting pointers on how to properly pitch a tent.

Leaving the dew dropped pass as we had a lot of ground to cover for today. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Just missing the camera. Photo by Anne Fai.

Chris crossing the trail that interrupted the cascading uluhe ferns.

Anne coming around the man-made notch in the trail.

Chris below the summit of Waiahole.

Forest bathing in the grove of Japanese sugi cedar trees planted back in 1935. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Climbing our way above the tree line and clouds. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris passing the 2,786′ summit that was once home to Uncle Tom’s Cabin circa 1927.

Traversing on top of the ridge line and dealing with the knee to waist high overgrowth and that banged and scratched our lower extremities.

Anne letting her butt do the sliding.

Trying to stay on the trail becomes a bit tricky when the mountains close off your views.

When you have to reverse hog-tie a person to get them to take their caffeinated drink. Photo by Anne Fai.

We found a map! Who knows how to read one?

Big ups … Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

… and downs.

Making my way down to the middle of the gap. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trying in vain to gather everybody for a group photo at the 2,100′ dip. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Climbing our way out of the gap, where we must have disturbed a beehive as Analyn, Anne and myself got stung multiple times. The rest of the group escaped unscathed.

Ferlino making his way up through the stand of palm trees. Photo by Anne Fai.

Climbing up the mountain where our shoes left divots in the soft and spongy ground. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Our sheltered break spot was marked with solitary sulking, pissing in the wind and hunkering down from the cold wind. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Climbing up more hills as we passed countless false summits.

Taking another break as dictated by the hills and weather. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Making our way down to another meadow in the mountains. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Is it too much to ask for a view every now and then?

Kip making his way down to dip into the isolated pockets of stagnant water for possible future hydration.

Got pakalolo?

Leaving the trickling creek in the corner. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Winding our way through the bog like terrain as the trail turned counter-intuitive.

Rounding the massive ohia tree.

Back on the ridge line.

Are we there yet?

Relationship goals at the 2,660′ knob. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Leaving the sound of music summit.

We discovered stacks of fences in the meadows at the 2,654′ summit. A sign of the irreversible march along the Ko’olau’s.

Trampoline time. Photo by Anne Fai.

The fence distracted us into continuing down the spur ridge.

Back on the ridge trail.

The clouds temporarily lifted to reveal the fluted mountain range ahead of us. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

False summit after false summit constantly mocked us as we made our way on the roller coaster ridge.

Natural illumination was soon replaced with artificial illumination. I preferred to train my night vision for the upcoming holiday hike.

A couple humps later and then the semi-recognizable landslide marked our descent into the saddle. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Champagne congratulations to Ferlino for completing his last section he needed to finish the Ko’olau Summit Trail in its entirety. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Give me your tired, your soaked, your huddled masses yearning to go home.

Once the alcohol tinged celebration wore off, we left the 2,160′ summit as we made our way down the dark and overgrown trail. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Going down the seemingly never ending 7.5 mile trail that were populated with irrigation tunnels, minor rock obstacles, a picnic shed and overgrowth. The miles did not melt away fast enough. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

A big thanks to Jasmin for patiently waiting for our exit from the trail with boxes of cold chicken, pizza and soda. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Our two day turned three day hike covered 20.33 miles through rugged terrain and harsh weather made bearable by good company and intermittent views. Congratulations again to Ferlino for finishing the KST.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Tagged as: corner, eleao meadows, kipapa summit, koolau summit trail, kst, manana summit, pauao junction, poamoho cabin, poamoho summit, poamoho trail, schofield-waikane junction, tree of life, waiawa gap, waikane-waiahole junction, waimano summit, waimano trail